AUGUST 23, 2013 — Indianapolis headquartered International Medical Group has enhanced its marine group medical insurance program, International Marine Medical Insurance (IMMI). It says that the enhancements enable shipowners to provide their crew comprehensive coverage for eligible medical expenses, which, it says, is increasingly important with the enactment of the Maritime Labor Convention (MLC, 2006).

The MLC, 2006, which took effect August 20, 2013 and became binding in international law, establishes minimum working and living standards for all seafarers on those ships. As such, notes International Medical Group, the MLC, 2006, requires shipowners to provide health protection and medical care to seafarers on board their ship. According to IMG, the IMMI program can help alleviate some of the challenges that owners may face in finding the appropriate medical care coverage for their crew.

"We have provided specialized international medical insurance programs to marine professionals for more than 20 years," said vice president of IMG's marine division, Al Wallace. "We understand their unique needs and recognize their mobile lifestyle. That's why we designed a group insurance program that offers continuous comprehensive medical coverage and helps provide shipowners peace of mind that they can provide quality, dependable protection for their crew."

Some of the benefits and optional riders offered under this program include:

• $5 million maximum benefit per insured person per period of coverage
• Primary to the vessel's Protection and Indemnity Insurance (P&I)
• Crew Member Return – Provides reimbursement of transportation expenses to reunite insured persons with the ship in the event they received eligible inpatient medical stay that didn't require emergency medical evacuation, and their assigned ship leaves
• Optional Maritime Rider – Provides additional benefits for sudden and unexpected recurrence of pre-existing conditions.  Provides for the reimbursement of transportation costs for the insured person's return to the designated city/country in the event that crew member is deemed medically unfit for duty.

Additionally, when seeking treatment outside the U.S., IMG works closely with insured crew members to assist them in locating, requesting and coordinating information for care in order to obtain the most efficient and cost-effective care available.  IMG also provides international utilization management, comprehensive case management, transplant network provider access, out-of-network claim negotiation and medical claim review.